Rockinghorse Children’s Charity
Our vision Our vision is a world where children are healthy and happy
Our mission We do this by funding projects, programmes and people that enhance the care and support given by our incredible colleagues in the NHS. We work in partnership with the UHSussex NHS Trust and other local charities to fund projects, programmes and people as well as helping young patients and their families. We fund cutting edge equipment and facilities, support medical staff, innovative research and pioneering treatments, that make a difference to patients and their loved ones. We support developments that go above and beyond what the NHS can provide at present.
Donna Holland CEO Rockinghorse Children’s Charity "We provide lifesaving medical equipment, toys and play resources, environments and spaces that help children feel more at home when they are in hospital, ground-breaking research in paediatric medicine and additional staff to ensure kids get the best possible care.”
Our impact 2023
380k Children Supported
30k Children seen in A&E
19 Services
68 Projects
725 Premature Babies
42 NHS Champions
Our reach Whilst we are the official charity of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton, we also support a range of healthcare and project settings across the whole of Sussex.
Our projects Throughout the year we deliver projects that support babies, children, young people, and their families across Sussex.
Toys Toys are great fun but can also aid development and help support children’s emotional wellbeing. We fundraise for thousands of toys, books and craft materials so children can have something to distract them from being scared or worried whilst in hospital.
Equipment We fund life-saving equipment and specially adapted medical kit that helps make treatement of children in medical environments easier and less stressful.
Research Funding ground-breaking, innovative research helps our colleagues within the NHS to develop more effective ways to treat children in the future.
Activities We have funded many activity projects that support children and young people’s mental health. These activites give children managing long term health conditions a chance to meet their peers, share their experiences and have fun.
People Funding services that actively provide support for children and their families is an important part of our work. This includes a specialist Paediatric Oncology Support service that helps children explore their feelings around their cancer diagnoisis.
Spaces Having the best spaces for new parents, children, or teenagers to spend time away from their bed whilst in hospital is vital in helping them relax, recharge or take a break. So we fund room refurbishments to help make hospital spaces a nicer place to be.
Why space is important Studies show that well-designed hospital environments help to reduce anxiety and stress, accelerate recovery and shorten hospital stays.
Our aim We want to continue to create amazing spaces that change hundreds of thousands of lives.
Outcomes We want to improve hospital experience, improve treatment times and improve the health outcomes for children and young people.
Successes We’ve funded some amazing transformations of spaces across the NHS.
Impact “While we were playing games to help relieve their boredom, they started to open up. They confided they had been using their diabetes as a form of self-harm. Without having a space away from the hospital bed this conversation wouldn’t have happened. If we were able to renovate more spaces to make them more inviting, it would open so many more doors in trying to engage teenagers.” Rockinghorse funded Hospital Youth Worker.
Work still to do But there are still so many tired, clinical, cold rooms that need our help to turn into bright, inviting, calming spaces that help reduce anxiety and stress, and support wellbeing and recovery.
For parents Spaces for parents of premature babies who need space to feed their newborns and learn how best to care for them in comfort.
For staff And improve clinical spaces for NHS staff to help them distract children from scary or painful treatments, and help their diagnostic process.
Jack’s visit to soft play
Your support Together with the Property Race Day we can demonstrate how the refurbishment and renovation of hospital spaces can provide huge impacts and benefits for sick children.
Thank you